Health aide pleads guilty to beating death of Cherry Hill man

CHERRY HILL -- A home health aide pleaded guilty today in the beating death of an 82-year-old Cherry Hill man who was in her care.

Yolanda Steele of Cherry Hill admitted that she hit Sidney Wenof with his cane on Dec. 11, 2007, after he questioned her about money she'd stolen from his bank accounts. Wenof fell, and his injuries led to his death eight days later.

The 34-year-old Steele was initially charged with murder but pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter.

She faces up to 25 years in prison when she is sentenced on Aug. 21. She agreed to pay more than $10,000 in restitution. Wenof's family requested that some of the money be donated to a grief counseling center in Mount Laurel.